Dundalk preview

Aidan O'Brien's first Flat runner of 2014 did little of note at Dundalk last week, and he will be hoping for better from Lone Star at the all-weather venue on Friday.

A 200,000gns son of Sea The Stars, the colt finished down the field in a Curragh race won by smart stablemate Century in October and more will be expected in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Maiden.

His jockey Joseph O'Brien is an interesting booking for Never A Quarrel in the opening Winter Series At Dundalk Handicap (6.15), with the four-year-old a first Dundalk representative for UK-based Australian trainer Jeremy Gask.

Standing in his way are Gallena, Inishmot Duchess and Catwilldo, who fought out the finish to a six-furlong handicap here last month and now drop to the minimum trip.

Our Manekineko completed a brace on the same evening and bids for the hat-trick in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, but this is a hotly-contested affair, with Victor's Beach and Deep Speed also arriving in winning form.

Lightly-raced seven-year-old mare Maontri demolished her rivals when applied with a hood for the first time at this circuit last week, and she has her sights raised for the Floodlit Friday Nights Rated Race.

Evergreen veteran Mountain Coral will be a tough nut to crack, as will The Black Devil, who returned to form when second at the start of December.

Bomber Jackson signed off 2013 with a clear-cut success but his subsequent 7lb rise means he has to concede weight all round over the same course and distance in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

Almost half of the field in the www.dundalkstadium.com (QR) Handicap were last seen over obstacles and it may be that Carried, who justified favouritism to break through over this track and trip on his most recent appearance, has a bit more speed.

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